The 17th annual Great Charity Challenge (GCC), held at Wellington International during the Winter Equestrian Festival and sponsored by Fidelity Investments, successfully raised over $2.3 million to support 90 nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County. Since its inception in 2009 by Mark and Paige Bellissimo, the event has distributed more than $24 million to 370 local nonprofits. The competition featured 36 teams of riders paired with charities, competing in a relay-style jumping event to generate funding, with all nonprofits receiving a minimum grant of $15,000. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida won the top prize of $100,000, followed by the Urban League of Palm Beach County and the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, which won $90,000 and $80,000 respectively.
Beyond the main competition, the GCC awarded additional grants totaling $55,000 through a youth-focused Costume Relay Race and distributed 54 more grants across sectors such as education, healthcare, and animal welfare. The event also highlighted the importance of volunteers through a dedicated Volunteer Initiative, granting funds to 21 organizations based on volunteer testimonials. The success of the GCC is attributed to the strong support of donors, sponsors, and partners like the United Way of Palm Beach County and South Florida PBS, reinforcing the event’s mission to unite the equestrian community and philanthropists in driving positive change throughout the region.
